Two bun recipes...

Hi everyone!

I did manage to make the buns yesterday, but didn't have time to post the recipes. Here they are:

Jam Buns

1 cup self-raising flour

pinch of salt

2 dsp marg (dessert spoons)

2 dsp caster sugar

2 tbsp milk

little jam

little milk for brushing over

1. rub the marg into the flour and salt
2. mix in sugar and milk
3. mould in hands into 6 balls and pop on a greased baking tray
4. make a hole in the top of each bun with your thumb
5. fill the hole with jam
6. brush the buns over with milk
7. bake for 10 mins at 200oC
8. leave to cool

All-in-one Buns

2oz marg

1oz caster sugar

1 egg

2oz self-raising flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp water

glace cherries/dried fruit/chocolate chips

12 cake cases

1. put all ingredients into a mixer (could do it with a mixing bowl and wooden spoon) and whisk until combined
2. Add either 2oz chopped glace cherries, 2oz dried fruit or 2oz chocolate chips and mix in
3. put into cake cases and bake for 10 mins at 190oC
4. cool

These recipes are great for children to make too.

I have a fan oven so they both took exactly 10 mins to cook. I made the cherry and the choc chips buns and will make the fruit ones another day. I needed to use up some cherries. I have stored them in an airtight tin. 

Yesterday I went through my fridges and took out any dodgy looking veg. I have peeled and chopped up swede, parsnips and carrots and put into stew packs ready for my next slowcooker casserole. I wouldn't be able to use them up fast enough this week. On Sunday, I will shop at Asda for fresh foods and obviously Daisy-May's baby things. I am doing well, using up what I have and hopefully cutting my shopping bill - reducing waste too!

I had several lemons in the fridge which I wanted to turn into puddings and cakes. I haven't had the time and rather than let them go bad, I sliced up the large lemons and open froze them. The smaller value lemons were squeezed and the juice frozen too.

I am really keeping on top of my food waste now. Any peelings go to the chickens and anything they can't have is recycled in our compost bins or in the brown bins we have to recycle all food waste with the bin collections.

Probably no blogging over the weekend - Charlotte and I are selling at a carboot sale tomorrow (Grampy is looking after Daisy all by himself!) Sunday will be shopping and family time. Have a good weekend!

Mandy x 

I've taken up Frugal Queen's challenge...

Hi everyone!

I have decided to take up Frugal Queen's challenge. She plans to 'Just do with what I have July', where she will be using up what is in her stores, cupboards and freezer. She is only buying what is absolutely necessary and this includes fresh food. Please go over to her blog and take a look. You can find her on my sidebar (blogs I follow) or go to hhtp://frugalincornwall.blogspot.co.uk

I feel like a bit of a cheat, because I only went shopping yesterday and I have an approved food order coming today! So my cupboards, fridges and freezers are full!

My plan is to see how long I can make this last. I want to use up all leftovers, have no food waste and create some exciting meals for my family out of cheap ingredients I already have. I want to use my breadmaker (haven't for ages), get into baking again and generally motivate myself to be more organised in the home.

The first job is to make an audit of my fridges, freezers and cupboards. Then I can start planning our meals for the weeks ahead.

Could you take up Frugal Queen's challenge of 'Just do with what I have July'?

I know it's still June, but I'm starting now and then we will shop again in a fortnight. Hopefully I will only need fresh fruit, veg, salad and baby stuff for Daisy-May.

Wish me luck :)

Mandy xxx

Finding things in the freezer I forgot I had...

Hi everyone,

Just lately I haven't found time to bake.

I have even bought cake from the supermarket!

This IS NOT good money saving!!!

Yesterday I went to my freezer to get a loaf out and came back with a coffee sponge and fruit cake. I batch baked some time ago (probably put photos on my blog) and these items had been buried under frozen veg. I was so happy to provide my husband and daughter with cake for their packed lunches.

You see I had thought ahead if things got too hectic to bake - I'm just so tired that I totally forgot I had been organised!

A lesson has been learned here - keep the freezer organised (which I normally do) by putting the new shopping away properly instead of piling it on top of what's already there.

I wonder what else I will find lurking at the bottom of my chest freezer???

Is your freezer perfectly organised so you can put your hand to whatever you need?

Mandy x